Page 13 of The Accidental Pleasure Dom

Once we stop at the airport and board the plane, the rest of our trip to the island is uneventful.

Even though Belle let me hold her hand the whole time on the airplane, I knew I would have a lot of explaining to do once we reached the beach house.

seven

Belle

We’ve been on the island for three days, and Dom hasn’t tried to speak to me. I know he’s busy with securing the island and figuring out who is trying to kill his brother Nick, but it still hurts knowing he has given up on us so soon.

The first day we arrived on the island, Dom’s housekeeper, Mae, was waiting for us with fresh towels and clean clothes. Nick showed us our rooms so we could shower and rest.

I didn’t miss the fact that Nick placed Claire in the room adjoining his, while my room was located at the end of the hallway, away from the other bedrooms.

Dom and Nick's cousin Joseph and his wife Jessica were also brought to the island until Dom figures out who is behind the fire that almost killed Nick. Luckily, I haven't been around them much, preferring the sound of the ocean waves crashing onto the shore to Joseph and Jessica's constant bickering.

I’ve spent the last two days sitting on the beach, watching the waves roll in with only myself as company. I wrap my arms around waist, wishing again that Dom would come down to the beach and claim me.

I glance over my shoulder at the beach house, hoping to catch a glimpse of Dom, but all I see are the armed guards surrounding the house, watching for any sign of danger. I’m lucky they let me venture this far from the house. Or maybe Dom doesn’t care enough about me to bother with having a guard assigned to me.

“Hey, Belle. How are you doing?” Claire sits down beside me in the sand, Nick only a few feet away, watching her like he’s afraid of losing her. “Sorry, I haven’t been around much.” She glances at Nick with a secret smile.

I have to look away, feeling guilty that I’m so jealous of the love I see shining in their eyes when they look at each other.

“I’m okay.” I wipe the tear from my eye with my shoulder before Claire sees it. I can’t survive her pity.

I want to ask about Dom, but my pride won’t let me.

Claire brushes my hair off my shoulder, “Why don’t you join Nick and me for dinner tonight?” She glances at Nick, and he nods his head in agreement.

I stand, brushing the sand off my body, “No, I don’t want to interrupt your plans.”

“Belle, we want you there.” She pleads, squeezing my hand.

Unable to come up with a good argument for not joining them, I smile and nod. “Sure, I'll join you for dinner. I just want to stay out here a little bit longer.” I glance back at the house, and I swear I see someone looking out the window at us. I blink my eyes, and the figure is gone.

***

The dinning room is empty when I arrive. Claire and Nick must have gotten distracted again.

The sound of footsteps draws my attention, "I thought you forgot all about me." I say, spinning around expecting to see Claire and Nick, but instead, a somber-looking Dom is standing in front of me.

"I could never forget you, Belle."

"You could have fooled me." I cross my arms over my chest.

"I deserve your anger. Will you let me make it up to you?"

When I don't respond, he reaches out his hand and says, "Come with me, Please."

"Fine."

He laces his fingers through mine, bringing my hand to his lips with a kiss, "Thank you, Belle."

We walk in silence out the back door and onto the beach, to the spot I've been sitting at for the last two days. He positions me in front of him so my back is to his front, and we are looking out at the sun setting against the backdrop of the ocean waves.

"I've watched you as you sit out here for the last two days. I've wanted to join you, but I also knew you needed some time to get used to the idea of me being a mob boss. It was your decision to make if you wanted to be with me or not. But after two days, I couldn't wait any longer." He turns me in his arms to face him. "Tell me now, Belle. Do you want me, warts and all? Or do you want someone who's not tainted by the kind of life I lead?"

With the sun's golden rays setting on the water, I can see the sincerity and love shining in Dom's eyes. "I want you, Dom." I wrap my arms around his neck, gently pulling his mouth to mine, and whisper, "Warts and all."

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